Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 11, Number 28, Decatur, Adams County, 1 February 1913 — Page 1

Volurrfe XI. Number 28.

HiS FIRST SHADOW Was Cast on Streets of Decatur by Tite Ernst Fortyeight Years Ago ON GROUNDHOG DAY He Has Been Here Since— Rode Up in Uncle Billy Blackburn’s Stage. — Just forty-eight years tomorrow, February 2, T. H. Ernst and the groundhog blew into Decatur. This was "Tite's” first visit here and ho lias been here ever since. Mr. Groundhog left as soon as he saw his shadow, that fine day, but he has made ills annual returns faithfully, and is due again tomorrow Both “Tite” and the groundhog saw their shadows that memorable day of 1865. That is, it is quite certain that the groundhog did, for it was the brightest kines of a day. There is some doubt about Tite’s shadow, be-' cause he was nothing more than a shadow' himself and there was probably not enough of him to cast more than a long, slender black line against the snow. For there was also snow on that memorable day. It was the last day of the -sledding season for "Uncle Billy” Blackburn, now the venerable assessor of Washington township. “Uncle Billy” was a man of breat moment; he was looked up to with the deference and respect and awe ' that we regard the great steam road, the interurban, the automobile and the airship. For there were no such ways of travel in those days and Uncle Billy was the connecting link between the village of Decatur and the outside world, namely the city of Fort Wayne. He drove a hack between the two places over the oil “plank road” along which the inter: ban cars now' run. Those who wished to make the trip to the city, or here, rode -w’th "Uncle Billy.” Those who went with him made the round t h in two days, Uncle Billy making i.nvr round trips a week to Fort Way: He drove up in one day and retur:. d j the next. When there was snow ■ .used bobsleds; when there was in : he used wheels for his hack. It therefore came through the * order of events that Uncle 1 Blackburn was the first Dec:;: that T. H.,Ernst saw on that [when he was destined to cas Lis [shadow on the streets of tl.i- < [When Uncle Billy was ready i■ 1 ■ ■the station in Ft. Wayne that a; ■ hog morning there came to hi.- s a passenger in the person of a i i plender, skeleton-like fellow, in ■lnion soldiers' blue uniform with knapsack on his back. He was a lad about eighteen years of age ami .<> Kill and gaunt that he seemed scar b K able to stand alone. This was T : ■He was returning, ill, from the civil ■ war, to Join his mother, Mrs R. b« > :i ■Ernst. Their home had been in Co- ■ lumbus Grove, Ohio, when Tit < n ■listed, but his widowed mother I ■came to her parents’ home in Ail scounty, and his trip here to join 1 • r ■ was the first time he had visited ii - ■grandparents here. They were G<<>. WErnst and wife and lived near l’i t t- ■ son, west of this city. K When the bob-sled hack reached I' ■ catur at 11 o’clock that mornin. . I ■ cle Billy directed Tite to the I ■ House, where the sick boy had a ■warm dinner, and then, tired, ill. a>’ ,! ■homesick, longing for the sight < ■own people, started to walk t ><• jgrniles to his grandfather’s home i ■Peterson. How be made the trip 1 ■scarcely remembers, as it was wii ■ difficulty that he dragged hiraseli ■along the frozen rough road. [ When he came near to the pla ■became exhausted and sat down <>.' ■ a log, nearly spent. Two men a;>■proaehed and seeing the blue-clad I Bure, remarked in a whisper which ETite overheard: “Yhy, it’s a soldier. Tite didn’t know the way to his ■grandfather’s home and asked one of (the men if they knew George Ernst. ■“Sure,” said one; "He's my fathcr-m---■law.” "Well,” said Tite, "he's my ■grandfather.” His informant proved ■to be Tite's uncle, John Hartman, ■whom he now saw for the first time. BThe man who was with him was Ben ■McLaughlin. When Tite "hove into ■view” of the old school house along ■the way, his young brother, who was ■looking from the window from his ■Beat, was suddenly seen to jump

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT

of the school house window and go running down the road like mad. He I had seen his brother Tite coming and | was so over-joyed that he couldn’t wait to make a proper exit. There is no record that his teacher gave him a demerit mark. I hat day, as we said before, was .the last sledding for Uncle Billy, for | the snow melted with the warmth of the weather. Tite has a warm place in his heart for the first Decatur man he saw, and every year, he and Uncle ■Billy meet on groundhog day and talk over old days. When Tite was custodian of the court house, Uncle Billy .being assessor, they met in the court house. Tomorrow being Sunday, they stated that they would go. to church | and then afterwards have a quiet [chat. WAS ILL AN HOUR Death Came Suddenly to Mrs. Sarah M. Durbin Belmer at Neligh, Neb. HAD LIVED HERE First Husband was John Everhart—Friends Receive the News. News Os the death of Mrs. Sarah M.» Durbin Belmer, which occurred suddenly January 13, at her home at Neligh, Neb., has Just been received by relatives at Monroe. She formerly lived here and the following obituary as given by a Neligh paper will be of' interest to friends here: Mrs. Alexander Belmer died suddenly Monday noon, January 13, her illness dating back only a few days and I her illness not being considered serious until about an hour before her' death. Her son, Chauncy Everhart, was with her in the morning and as her condition did not appear to be serious, came to his work at the Leader office. About 11 o'clock he was summoned to her bedside, and responding immediately reached her side Just in time to see her beforp she died. Sarah M. Durbin was born in Adams county, Indiana, August 15, 1345, and was married in the same state to John Everhart. October 30, 1862. The family ci me to Nebraska in 1890 and settled in Madison county, later removing to the vicinity of Elgin and to Neligh in 1 is'.'d. Mr. Everhart died in Neligh,: i >e< ember 20, 1901, and was buried in ' ■ the Laurel Hill cemetery, Mrs. Everhart was married to Alexander Bel-in.-r, who survives her, November 23, 1904. In addition to Mr. Belmer she is survived by the following children by her first husband: Mrs, M. R. Rose, Tacoma, Wash.; P. M. Everi hart, Tacoma, Wash.; Mrs. Charles Shirley, Norfolk, Neb.; Mrs. P. V/. , Payne, Elgin, Neb.; Joseph and Chauncey Everhart, Neligh, Neb. Four children are dead. The funeral • was conducted Wednesday, January . 16 at the M. E. church by Rev. E. E. • nowen, and she was interred beside : her first husband in Laurel Hill ceme- ■ tery. Mrs. Belmer was an unassum- : ing conscientious woman, who sought to perform her work in the world . without complaining. Mr. Belmer is an invalid and she devoted the latter . years of her life to him in a most ■ worthy manner, tho burden, following the raising of a large family, being; no light one. She was highly respect- , ,1 by those with whom shd came in i contact. She had been a member of , : the Methodist church for many years ’ ■ and of the Neligh church since 1902. , Mr. Belmer and the children of the deased desire to express their thanks to the Ben Hur lodge and to the many friends for the flowers and the numerous acts of kindness during i i'their bereavement. —.— RETURNS to hospital. Mrs. Grace Acker, who only a short i 1 time ago was discharged from the St. • Joseph hospital in Ft. Wayne, where I g he had been a patient four weeks, .'has found It necessary to return to the hospital for another operation, 1 W hich will be performed Monday. It Jis expected that her stay at the hospital this time will be six or seven ' weeks. She passed through Decatur 1 this morning. She was accompanied by Mrs. James Gauze of Willshira, who will stay until after the operation. Mrs. Acker-Was the wife of 1 James M. Acker of Pleasant Mills. 1

“DECATUR CAN AND WILL”

IS KEEPING COOL Young Hoover Seems Very' Little Concerned Over Wife’s Death and LIKES TO READ About His Case in the Newspapers—Hobo Taken Up as a Witness. Van Wert, Ohio, Feb. I—Accordingl—According to Attorney W. O. Kerns, who Is conducting the defense of Ralph Hoover, in Jail here charged with the murder of his wife, both himself and the prisoner’s father have tried every way possible to get a statement from him that would clear up the mystery. They have told him repeatedly to confess if he really did the shooting, but he steadfastly declares he will not confess to something of which he was not guilty. Prosecutor Clark Good, who will conduct the state’s side of the case, has been In office only since January 1, and succeeded Kerns of the defense. A number of witnesses were examined today, including Dr. Maurice I. Rosenthal of Ft. Wayne. It was hoped that the jury would complete its investigation today, but an indictment' will not be returned until later. It will charge first degree murder. Circumstantial evidence will be the only thing which the state can convict the young husband, but tbat evidence is very stgrbng. The fact that Hoover’s own revolver was used to do the shooting and many other things leading up to the crime, statements he has made about his married life, will all have a bad effect on him.[ If Hoover did commit the murder' Ihe is displaying more nerve than any | other prisoner Van Wert county ever I jhhd. Very few tears has he shed over the fact that his wife is dead, and he delights in reading newspaper ' accounts of the crime. His name in a newspaper appears to look good to : him. The indictment the grand'jury will return against Hoover will be on the (Count med on p age 2) WILL GIVE ADDRESS Hon. J. T. Merryman Will Deliver Address Before the Members of M. E. BROTHERHOOD Next Tuesday Evening, February 4—Will be Interesting to All. * ' The Methodist Brotherhood has issued cards and invitations for an entertainment to be given in the church parlors Tuesday evening, February 4. The Brotherhood has endeavored to make each of the meetings as interesting and educational as possible, and have succeeded in every respect, but at the meeting Tuesday evening ■ they have arranged for a special feature in the order of an address by Hon. J. Ur'Merryman. Mr. Merryman [has declined to inform them of the [subject upon which he will speak, but from his former addresses and interesting talks it is a safe conclusion that those present Tuesday evening will hear something exceptionally good. After the main feature of the l evening a social hour will be indulged In. Tho membership of the Brotherhood has taken wonderful strides in the last few months, numbering at present almost 200 men. o AT THE PRESBYTERIAN. Christian Endeavor Day, that will be especially celebrated over the entire United States Sunday, will bo observed by the Endeavorers of the Presbyterian church, Sunday evening at 6 o’clock by a special program. Miss Mary Erwin is leader and there will be many feotubes to make the service of more than the usual interest. Instrumental and vocal solos and duets will have a place in the special music.

Decatur, Indiana. Saturday Evening, February 1, 1913

T. P. A. POST HELD MEETING. Elected Officers For Year and Named State and National Delegates. Members of the T. P. A. local post gathered at the Hotel Murray parlors last evening and elected officers for the ensuing year. T. M. Reid who has done valiant services in the past whs again chosen president, C. H. Colter, secretary and J. 8. Peterson vice-pres-ident. The committees will remain the same tts the past year. C. H. Colter was named delegate and J. H. Heller alternate to the national convention which meets at Richmond, Va., in June. Ed Vancil and H. R. Moltz were chosen delegates and T. M. Reid and D. M. Hensley alternates to the state convention to be held at Fort Wayne in May. GLEN TAGUE WEDS Former Decatur Boy Weds Pasadena (Cal.) Diamond Broker’s Daughter. ON LAST WEDNSDAY' To Tour Japan—Groom Will Become Partner of His Father-in-law. A dispatch of much interest to Decatur people comes from Los Angeles, Cal., telling of the marriage of Mr.' Glen Tague to Miss Dorothy Courson,[ Wednesday, January 29, at the Hotel Alexander. Miss Courson is the only daughter of D. A. Courson, the prominent diamond broker, of Pasadena, | Cal. Mr. Tague is the only son of [ Fred B. Tague, formerly a shoe mer-' , chant of Decatur. Miss Courson and I Mr. Tague are very prominent young I ■people in the social life of Pasadena' and Los Angeles, and their ’ many i friends wish them all the happiness 1 possible in their married life. After ' | the wedding the young people depart-] ed for a three months ’tour In Honolulu and Japan. They will reside in 1 Pasadena, where Mr. Tague will he! | a partner to his father-in-law. Mr. l ; Tague has been salesman for the! Feagens Jewelry company, the largest exclusive Jew’elry company in Los Angeles. FORGOT HIS LITTLE BOY. Lambert Lad Obliged to Stay all Night in Case. Friday evening about 6 o’clock a man by the name of Lambert, living' near Bobo, brought his ten-year-old' son into the Artman & Hess case, and told him to stay there until he came back to take him home. However, the father did not show up until this morning, and the little boy bunked all night in a nice warm bed above the case, furnished him by Messrs. Artman & Hess. He had no supper and through the kindness of Mr. Jonas Tritch he was given a square meal. He wanted to walk home through the terrible storm Friday night, but being poorly dressed, and very young, was prevailed upon to stay. This morning after breakfast, he left. About noon today the father came in to claim his boy, but fowl him gone. He stated that he had called for him last night, and found him gone, but none of the clerks remem- ] ber the father putting in an appearance until today. REMAINS SENT TO AVILLA. — The body of the late T. R. Moore of of this city, who dejvarted from this life last Wednesday, was sent to Avilla this morning via the G. R. & I. The remains were accompanied by Mrs. Moore, wife of the deceased, and son, Charles, and other relatives. The pall bearers were David E. Smith, Charles Dunn, Charles Ernst, G. T. Burk, John Stoneburner and B. W. Sholty, who also went to Avilla. Burial will also be made at Avilla. Rev. Gleiser, pastor of the Presbyterian church, accompanied the remains. _ — YEOMEN TO MEET. The Yepman announce an Important meeting for Monday night, when the election of delegates to the state conclave will take place. VY”. F. Carter, state manager will be here. Refreshments will be served and a good time assured.

THE HOME TALENT Play “All a Mistake” Made a Decided Hit Friday Evening. WAS A BIG SUCCESS Given for the Benefit of the Firemen Tournament Next June. The home talent play given at the opera house Friday evening under the I auspices of the city firemen, was a decided success in every meaning of the word. In spite of the wintry weather outside, the house was crowded to the doors with a Jolly care-free audience, who w’ere expecting an evening of enjoyment at the expense of the local people who had the nerve to demonstrate their ability before their friends. Nor was the audience disappointed in that respect, <Tor the cast under the able directorship of Miss Mabel Weldy, brought out the comical situations and climaxes in such a manner that the play was a scream from the rise of the first curtain to the fall of the final. The specialties introduced between the acts by two quarteth were exceptionally good. Capt Obadiah Skinner, a retired sea captain, was characterized by Fred Schurger, and was played to perfection. Lieut. George R. Richi mond, his nephew, was represented Iby Bruce Patterson. Richard Hamfl I I ton, a country gentleman, was -de-: picted by Clayson Carroll in a most satisfactory manner and Ferdinand Lighthead, a neighbor, also a dude, by , Sherman Beery, whose perfectly nati ural acting brought forth rounds of [aplause. Nellie Huntington, a friend • was presented by Miss Jean Butler, , whose cleverness and unassuming act[ing was a pleasure to every one in I the audience. Nellie Richmond, [George’s wife, w r as played by Frances ( .Cole, and also brought expressions of [praise from the audience for her clevler acting. Cornelia (Nellie) Skinner,' ian old maid, could not possibly have (Con tin net. on Page 2) MILLER iTnaMED i Standard Oil Company Appoints Roy Miller Successor to T. R. Moore AS LOCAL AGENT __ T Began Duty This Morning Was Former Wells Fargo Express Driver. Roy Miller, a hustling yonug man of the city, who has been driver for the Wells-Fargo Express company since September 1, has been appointed local agent for the Standard Oil company, succeeding Theodore R. Moore, whose death occurred last Wednesday morning. Mr. Miller entered upon duty this morning. The appointment was made about 5 o’clock Friday evening ljy Herman ! Sheets, who Is superintendent of the northern Indiana Standard Oil district, and has charge of the appointments of the agents for the various sub-districts. With him in the city was D. L. Gullfoyle, who is state manager of the company. Mr. Moore served faithfully as local agent for fourteen years. During the latter part of his service, when he found himself in need of rest, on ac- . count of ill health, he wished to resign, but through the influence of the i company, he was prevailed upon to i continue his service. The local territory covers much of the northern part of the county, and th6 Standard oil wagon is known everywhere along the thoroughfares leading to the various towns of this part of the county. Mr. Miller is a capable young man and the company > made a good choice in its appointment. He is a son of Elmer Mill-ar of this city. Ben Elzey, local Wells-Fargo Ex- ■ press agent, has not yet announced the appointment of a driver.

NAUGHTY COLLEGE BOYS. (United Press Service) Washington, D. C., Feb. 1 -(Special to Daily Democrat)—A report that the college students are planning to turn the suffragette parade, March 4, into a riot by liberating about 1,000 mice, has caused the ladles to ask the po- 1 lice for protection, «, K. OF C. NOTICE. The Knights of Columbus will hold their regular meeting, Monday February 3rd., and every member is requested to be present. The meeting will prove to be an interesting one and it will be your loss if you do not attend. OUR CHAMPIONS Won Another Victory Last ’ Night by Defeating Petroleum High School. FAST AND FURIOUS Did Both Teams Work— Next Game Friday, at Bluffton. The local high school champions “copped” another victory Friday night in a good, clean game against the Petroleum high school boys. The locals [started off with a rush and the game [had not opened more than thirty seci onds before Decatur had a basket to I her credit. It was the same way all [through the game. At the end of the I first half the score was 15 to 3 in favor of Decatur. During the second half the Petroleum boys got up a little more “ginger,” and made sixteen points, as the Decatur boys did equally as well. The final score of the game was 30 to 19. It looks as if the local boys had their minds made up to clean every (team in the state. They certainly I have a fine record. The line-up was: I Decatur Petroleum. |Falk F... Crawley-Yager [Franks F Nutter (Vancil C Linn (Lose G Hedges [Peterson G French Field goals for Petroleum were shot [by Crawley, 2; Nutter, 2; Linn, 2; for Decatur: Falk, 3; Franks, 1; Vancil, 5; Peterson, 3. Foul Goals: Decatur, 6; Petro- 1 leum, 7. Officials—Bears and Worthman. Timekeeper—Peterson; score keepers, Vail and Dunbar. In the preliminary game Vail’s five (defeated Lachot’s team by a score of 28 to 6. The next game to be played here will be between the Monroe high school team and the Decatur high school second team. This will be a good game, as the Decatur boys will try to get back their lost laurels from the Monroe high school, and not allow them to take a series of three games. Next Friday evening the Decatur’ high school faculty and the high school boys will journey to Bluffton, J i where the faculty will play the high school faculty of Bluffton and the ] high school team meets the Bluffton five. A game has been arranged between the Bluffton faculty and the ; Decatur high school faculty two weeks from Friday. IN REPLY TO A SUGGESTION. Mr. Editor: Have read the article in the Democrat under the heading, "Only a Suggestion.” With all due respect to the old soldiers living, and all honor to those' who fought, bled and died for our beloved country, will say that to erect a monument at any cost would be the height of folly, "only a pile of rock and mortar, no service to anybody, living or dead.” But build some building as the “Reader of the Denibcrat” suggests, a G. A. R. hall, rest room, comfort room, with every soldier’s name emblazoned therein, in some conspicuous place; or a hospital, any public building that would be of some use, some credit to the county in which it is located. Receive bids, bar out graft and thus would be a monument, and pay honor to the old soldiers. I am no veteran, only a pai triotic American citizen, and A READER OF DEMOCRAT.

Price, Two Cents.

DEATH OF JOHN NEED - Aged Man from Monroeville Fell in Highway and Fractured His Skull. BRAIN WAS CRUSHED Causing Death Amost Instantly—Formerly Lived Here—Coroner Called. John Need, aged sixty-nine, well known resident of Monroeville and whose business has made him many acquaintances in this city and surrounding country, died at 8:15 o’clock this morning as the result of a fall on the road in front of the home of John Raudebush, Just north of the city. With him at the time were two companions, Frank Snyder and son of this city who were accom]>anying him to the home of a Root township farmei, where they hoped to transact a business deal that would make Mr, Need the owner of an automobile. Mr. Need has the agency for a coal oil heater in this county and has been engaged for some time at selling the township rights, and among the various deals was one in which [he hoped to trade a township or two for automobile. The three men were walking along the road, just past the Haugk mill at the north end of second street when Mr. Need slipped and fell. ; His head struck on a frozen clod, about two inches high. The skull was fractured, crushing the brain and causing almost instant death. He was carried into the house and a physician summoned, but he lived but a few moments and was dead when Dr. D. D. Clark arrived. Relatives here and at Monroeville were immediately notified and later the remains were removed to the undertaking rooms of Yager Brothers & Reinking, where it was prepared for burial. Mr. Need had been here for about two weeks on business and was staying w'ith his niece, Mrs. John Thomas, on Ninth street. This morning he arose at his usual hour feeling well, ate a hearty breakfast and then started out. The sad news was a I great shock to Mrs. Thomas. ’ Had Mr. Need lived until next fall [he would have been seventy years of age. He was still in apparent good health. i He Is survived by one son, Walter, who lives on a farm near Monroeville, and two nieces, Mrs. John Thomas, and Mrs. Frank Roop of this city. Coroner D. D. Clark was summoned and an inquest will be held this afternoon to determine the cause of his death, unquestionably accidental. The son, Walter, of Monroeville will arrive some time this afternoon and funeral arrangements will then be made. Mr. Need formerly lived in this city, occupying the residence which stood ■where the Pythian Home is now located on Third street. Mrs. Need died there several years ago and Mr. Need moved to his farm near Monroeville. He was well-to-do. WINTER WITH US AGAIN. Dear old winter is with us once again; and the faces of the ice and coal men wear a broad smile. After hovering near tne mark that Is designated by balmy gentle zephyres suggestive of the springtide, the therImometer took a sudden drop last evening after a few hours of swirling snow. Reports from various sources [say that the thermometer stood from jtwo to four debrees below zero, tne I range varying according to the sheltered place where the instrument hung. REV. MYRICK NOT COMING. . Rev. F. G. Myrick, of tho Christian church, Montpelier, who was to have i been here tomorrow nt the local • Christian church, writes that he can- > not come, his congregation not con- - senting to release him for the day. Tie > may come at a latter date. The word ‘ was not received In time by Clerk G. ! C. Steele to secure another man for ■ tomorrow, so there will be no preaching. The other services will be carried out as usual.